Process for reclaiming lands and maintaining lands in alpha condition suitable for cultivation or habitation



- Sept. 20, 1932. PROCESS w. RICHMOND 1,873,295 F0 CLAIMING LANDS ANDMAINTAINING LANDS IN A CONDITION SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATIONOR HABITATIONFiled June 28, 192.7 2 Sheets-Sheet I Sept. 20, 1932. w mc 1,878,295

PROCESS FOR RECLAIMING LANDS AND MAINTAINING LANDS A v CONDITIONSUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION OR HABITATI Filed June 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet2 20 for these canal purposes.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 WALTER RICHMOND, OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA PROCESSFOR RECLAIMING LANDS AND MAINTAINING LANDS IN A CONDITlEON SUIT- ABLEFOR CULTIVATION OR HABITATION Application filed June 28, 1927. SerialNo. 202,131.

This invention is an improvement in the method and means for controllingthe water table of land and. relates more particularly to a method ofdraining and irri ating land including that normally of a boggy ormarshy nature.

Heretofore in the improvement of land by drainage and irrigation, resorthas been made to open the drain ditches or canals passing throughth-eland along the lower portions thereof. In some cases canals have beenformed by means of dikes and the Water from the adjacent land is pumpedover the dikes into the canal and discharged. However,

such methods have proven very unsatisfactory in that, aside from thelarge expense involved in constructing and maintaining such drainagecanals, a large portion of the useful land area is actually'lost as itmust be used Furthermore, in the case of excessive rains the canals areapt to overflow and damage the lands or themselves be damaged andrendered unfit for future use. Another great disadvantage of suchsystems is that the land is drained of all the water which is completelydisposed of except for a relatively small quantity which may remain inthe canals at all times and which serves no useful purpose.

With these problems in mind, it is one of the objects of my invention tomaintain positive control of the water table of lands, as for instance,where the land tends to lie under Wfihel,tl16 land may be drained to apredetermined water level. above or below the surface without the use ofcanals, pipe lines or the like. I Another object of my invention is toso control the Water table level that different levels may be obtainedrapidly without injuring crops growing on the land.

Still another object of my invention is to prevent frost from injuringcrops growing on the land by causing a quantity of the relatively warmsub surface water to circulate on or close to the surface of the landduring the periods of low temperatures.

In the case of lands of peaty nature which are subject to fire, myinvention offers a ready means for protection against fires.

Another object of my invention is to control the water on lands thecontour of which renders drainage by the methods now in use excessivelyexpensive or impossible, without erosion.

By the use of my invention, I am able to accomplish all of thesedesirable results at a very negligible initial and operating cost peracre of land.

These and other objects will become apparent in the followingspecification in which reference is made to the drawings, like referencenumerals indicating the same parts in the various views in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a parcel ofland with means, in accordance Wibth my invention, for controlling thewater ta le.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through a sloping parcel of landadapted to be drained and otherwise treated in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parcel of land shown in Figure 1, but on areduced scale.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the section of land illustrated in Fig. 2,showing the mamier of isolating a tract.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 but is shown inslightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure l and shows aslightly modified form of dike or barrier.

Briefly, my invention may be applied to otherwise tillable land which isby its nature and its natural environment, either flooded or boggy orsubject to inundation and which rests upon a porous stratum separatedtherefrom by hardpan, rock or any impervious stratum. My inventionlikewise may equally and effectively be applied to arid lands or tolands actually under cultivation, where control of the water table isdesired.

In most lands of this nature it will be found that this geologicalformation exists.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, in which I have illustrated oneembodiment of my invention, the tillable land indicated at 1, is ofvarying thickness, sometimes as much as ten to twenty feet deep. Thisstratum overlies a stratum, such as desig-.

nated at 2, of rock or hardpan, which is substantially impervious towater. Below the stratum 2 is found a porous stratum 8, usually of verycoarse or porous rocks. This porous stratum is of such anature thatwater will flow therethrough with a noticeable current as distinguishedfrom mere seepage, and usually extends many miles to a lower-level anddischarges into some larger body of water.

In many localities several of these impervious and porous strata occuralternately, one over the other, to a great depth. To utilize thesestrata for the purposes above described, I form a septum, or dike l,which protrudes above the land surface a suflicient distance to extendabove the surface flood water, thereby isolating the particular parcelor area of land to be reclaimed. These dikes preferably extend down tothe impervious stratum to prevent the flow of water from adjacent landintothe segregated parcel. However, where the septum 4b Fig. 6 extendsbelow the surface-of the tillable land asillustrated in Fig. 6 the wallsof the septum below the surface may be of such porosity as topermit aretarded migration ofwater therethrough and across the area in intimatecontact with the tillable soil as indicated by the arrows 10, Fig. 6. Insuch cases, the water could be drained ofi rapidly before the levelapproached the land surface close enough to be harmful. The purpose ofthis subsurface migration is described herein.

In carrying out my invention, I drill wells 5, depending upon the sizeof the area whose water table is to be controlled, throughftheimpervious stratum 2, the walls of each of the Wells being supported bya suitable casing 6 extending intov or through the impervious stratum.This casing not only prevents filling of the well by loose earth butalso controls the height of the Water table. In practice, I make the topof this casing in the form of a telescopic sleeve 7 so that it may beadjusted to any desired depth on the casing above or below the surfaceof the tillable stratum. By the use of such an arrangement the watertable can be maintained the desired distance from the surfaceof the landby raising and lowering the sleeve on the casing. The. porous stratum 3usually extends over large areas and permits water to pass so freelythat the wells 5 can discharge into it continuously as a fast flowingstream and thewater will be carried away in sufficient quantities totake care of the heaviest rains even though they extend over a verylarge section. At the same time a large volume of -waterremains in, oris passing through the porous strata after the head of water, due to thewells, has reached the normal water level of the stratum. This water, ofcourse, remains at a substantially constant temperature and may beeasily pumped back through land prior to the frosting period, remainduring the frosting period, and then could be drained off rapidly.

Havinga discharge capacity which is so greatly in excess ofrequirements, it is not necessary to isolate the parcel of land with awater-tight septum and in some cases it is advantageous to use asemi-pervious septum and allow a retarded'migration of the subsurfacewaters. In many cases, I find it advantageous to use a semi-perviousseptum or dike 4b, as illustrated in Fig. 6 and allow a retardedmigration of the sub-surface water through the tillable stratum asindicated by the arrows 10?). This serves two purposes, first,preventing a stagnant pool of sub-sun face water and also furnishinginexpensive and almost automatlcally controlled 1rrigation. bymaintaining a water level even with the top of the well casing and at adesired distance below the surface. In cases Where the entire area is tobe drained and there are no higher areas to consider, irrigation can beprovided by the use ofa small pump adapted to pump water out of the welland into the sub-surface pool. This can be effected at a very minimumcost as the only Water needed will be that required to maintain thesub-surface pool. Since this is not exposed to the direct rays of thesun and rises slowly through the soil, the losses by evaporation are notlarge. Lands of a peaty nature when overdrained, are subject to thehazards of fire and in fact thousands of acres of rich farming land havebeen completely destroyed by fire from overdrainage by the canalmethods. By my invention, a water level may be maintained suflicientlyhigh at all times to keep the soil moist and to eliminate this firehazard.

If the land is of sloping nature, such as illustrated in Figure 2, theseptum 40 may be arranged in steps or terrace fashion as illustrated anda correct water table maintained on each parcel. Since the surface wateris carried off on each portion without passing over other portions,erosion of the surface is reduced to a minimum if not eliminated.

Furthermore. by the use of such controlled drainage, swelling of surfacestreams by the rapid inpouring of successive amounts of sur facedrainage water is eliminated and other till able land lying at a lowerlevel than the land being drained is not subjected to the cumulativeeffects of the drainage of exten- 39 thoroughly; saturated, theadjustable top 7 of thewell casing may'belowered to the desired watertable level and "excess water then drained ofl'. .Theseptum or dike maybe madevery economically from puddled earth or rock .Which'gives asomewhat impervious dike, depending onthe degree of fineness andpuddling. a i l Iclaim: V 1. The method of Water control forllandoverlying a porous; substratum and separated therefrom :-'by asubstantially impervious stratum which consists ofpartially isolating a"parcel of said i land by. partially damming 1 off water from anelevation abo ve'the normal.

water level to the substantially impervious stratum and causing retardedmigrationfof subsurface V waters through the, land so isolated, draininga portion ofthe water in said.

parcelto a given location below thesurface of the normal Water table ofsaid arcel,;re5

moving aportionbf the water rom said parcelby drainage at -apredetermined rate into said'poroussubstratum whereby a water table ismaintainedat a predetermined depth below the surface. of said isolatedparcel and theivvater above said substratum and in 'said parcel may becontinuously-changed.

. 2.1The m'ethodgof controlling moisture in land overlying a porousstratum and separatedftherefrom bya substantiallyimpervious stratumwhich; consists of isola'ting the parcel by dammingitthe watenfrom thetele vation above the normal water level to the substantially impervousstratum, passing a portion o-f the impounded swater ofsaid isolatedparcel through a passagewaythrough said impervious stratum whereby thewater is passed; from said parcel into the porousstratum,.i-:positioning the mouth of said pas saigeway a predetermineddistance below the normalwaterlevelwhereby the water table below theland surface of the isolated parcel.

may be-fretained at a 1 predetermined depth '3. The f method ofcontrolling moisture'in land overlyingaiporous stratum andseparated'therefrom? by a substantially impervious stratum which consists ofisolating the parcel 'by damming the water out fof jsaid parcel from anelevationj above 'them'orinal water level to a predetermineddistancebelow said normalwater level and allowing water to migrateslowlyintosaid isolated. parcelat a lower portion thereof, passing the Water ifrom said isolated parcel through an opening through the imperviousstratum and dis charging! it into theporous stratum vthere-1 beneath,controlling the level at which the water may. enter said-passage wherebythe water-below thezsurface of said parcel and above; said 3 imperviousstratum ma yi be changed continuously and a' predetermined water levelmaintained in: said parcel. a f

4.In a water:table control for land overlying aporous stratum and"separated there fromjby a substantially imperviousstratum,

means including a di-ke'for damming the waterin the area under control,said dike ex tending around sa d area and extending from an elevationabove the normalwater level to the substantiallyimpervious stratum, apassage communicating the'area within the dike Y with the porous stratumand'means for-regw lating' the quantity'of water to be retain'ed in thearea. 1

5. method of water control for *land overlying a sloping Fsubstantially; impervious substratum which consists of {arrestingmigration-of part of the 'waters normally passing through said land inthe direction of the downward slope-'oflsaid substratumkand-im poundinga portion ofsaid waters above said impervious substratum and beneath thesurf pounded Waters at'a predeterminedlevel below theland surface. r Y

The method of controlling water on tract of'land overlying aslopingsub'stanface of saidland and maintaining said imtially impervioussubstratum which con'sis-ts of isolating the tract of land by extendinga dam from an elevation above the-normal water level to thesubstantially impervious-straturn and arresting migration-of partjof'the sub-surface waters a'c'ross said land, and 1m'-- root" pounding partof said waters in said traaand, i

above saidimpervioussubstratum and main} f taining the water tableof-tlie impounded water inthe' isolated tractbelowithe normal land wesurface. I r

' 7i-The method of controllingthewater on a tract of land overlying'asloping substantially impervious substratum which fco'nsists'of iso Ilating said tract by extending'a damvf'rom an elevation abovethenornraljvvater level to ,tli'e' I substantially impervious stratum,-arresting migration of'the water normally passing through said tract, inr the "direction of the downward slope of s'a id substratumfimpound Ving'a'portion' of said Water'abo've theinipervi- ,ous -sub striatum'andbeneath the surface of r saidtract, andremovingfpartjofsaid-ini'gratf I ing water froin said tract r A s o r 1an inalying a porous 'stratumfand separated there from by asubstantially impervious stratum which consists of isolating a parcelo'f'the land by extending adam from an "elevation above v thenormalwaterlevel; to the substantially impervious, straturn andblocking theflow of;

waters thereacross; passing Evvaterin saidiso latedparcelthrough apassageway in the pervious stratum and discharging it into the porousstratum therebeneath, and withdrawing Water from said porousstratumanddischarging it into the isolated parcel at predetermined timesand in predetermined quantities.

9. A method of frost protection for crops growing on land overlying aporous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially imperviousstratum, which consists of isolating the portion of land on which thecrops are growing .by extending a dam from an eleva tion above thenormal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, withdrawingwater from the porous stratum and discharging it into the isolatedportion at predetermined times and maintaining the water so wlthdrawnfrom sald porous stratum in said isolated portion durlng lntervals offrosting temperature, and passing the excess water on the isolatedportion through a passage in the impervious stratum into theporousstratum at predetermined times.

10. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum andseparated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, whichincludes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land fromcontiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the normalwater level to the substantially imperviousstratum, a conduit passing.through said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within theland so isolated.

11. A water control means forland overlying aporous stratum andseparated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, whichincludes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land fromcontiguous land, said dike extending downwardly from above the normalwater level of said land tothe impervious, stratum, a conduit passingthrough said impervious stratum and having. an inlet opening within theland so isolated. I l

12. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum andseparated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, whichincludes adike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land fromcontiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the, normalwater level to the substantially impervious stratum, said dike beingslightly porous for permitting partial migration of waters from adjacentland across said isolated land, a conduit passing through saidimpervious stratum and having an adjustable inlet opening within theland so isolated.

13. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratumand'separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, whichincludes a dike'arranged for isolating a parcel of said land fromcontiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the normalwater level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduit passingthrough said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within thelandso isolated, and means for adjusting the height of said inletopening of said conduit above the impervious stratum for maintaining thewater level in the isolated land at predetermined depths abovethe'impervious stratum.

14. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum andseparated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, whichincludes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said landtromcontiguous land, by damming the waterfrom an elevation above thenormal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduitpassing through said impervious stratum and having an inlet openingwithin the land so isolated, and means for adjusting the height of saidinlet opening of said conduit above the imf pervious stratum formaintaining the water level in the isolated land at predetermined depthsabove the impervious stratum, said means including a sleevetelescopic-ally mounted on the inlet end of said conduit. 15. A frost,irrigation and fire control apparatus for land overlying a porousstratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratumwhich includes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of the land fromcontiguous parcels, by extending a dam from an elevation above thenormal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduitextending through said impervious stratum and having an inlet openingwithin the isolated parcel for passing watertherefrom into aporous'stratum, and means for adjusting the height of the inlet openingabove the impervious stratum, a pump arranged for drawing water from aporous stratum and for discharging the water withdrawn from. said porousstratum into said isolated parcel of land.

16. The method. of controlling water on land overlying a porous stratum;and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum whichincludes isolating a parcel of the land by damming out water from anelevation above the normal water. level to the substantially imperviousstratumand passing excess water from-said parcel into the porous stratumthrough an op'eningin the substantially impervious stratum.

17. The method of controlling the water on a tract of land overlying asloping substantially impervious substratum, which consists of isolatingthe tract of land by extending a porous dam from an elevation above thenormal water level to the substantially impervious'stratum and partiallyblocking the natural flow of sub-surface waters for a distance upwardlyfrom the said impervious substratumand thereby arresting migration ofpart of the sub-surface water, and impounding part ofsaid water tomaintain the water table of the impounded water in the isolated tractabove itsnormal level.. V t 18. The method of controlling Water on aparcel of landoverlyiug a porous stratum V 6 and separated therefrom bya substantially WALTER RIQICHMONYDQ

